What

National Library Legislative Day is May 7-8, 2018. YALSA wants you to get involved! You can make a difference and your participation is needed to help ensure that Congress understands the positive impact that well-stocked, professionally staffed libraries have on teens.

How

There are several ways that you can advocate for libraries on National Library Legislative Day:

Travel to Washington, D.C.

Participate in the event onsite on May 7-8. Be sure to register and contact your state's NLLD coordinator to let them know you're coming. Details at the ALA web site. Congrats to Kristen Majkut who is the recipient of YALSA's 2018 advocacy stipend to attend the event. Read about it via this press release: Majkut press release. To apply to attend the 2019 Legislative Day, send in your application by Dec. 1, 2018. OR

Download, print and distribute these postcards to teens to fill out and send to their members of Congress.

Tweet Your US Senator & Representative

Visit http://cqrcengage.com/ala/home & towards the upper left corner you'll see a black text box about Legislative Day. Click the arrow until you get the 'send a Tweet' option

You can also Tweet the message below at the various Congressional committees that are working on these bills: @HouseAppropsGOP, @AppropsDems, @GOPHELP, @HELPCmteDems, @SenateApprops

libraries help teens succeed in school and prep for college & jobs! Please fund LSTA at $189.3M & IAL at $27M in FY19 and oppose the elimination of @US_IMLS http://ow.ly/Mcasf #nlld18 #fundlibraries #saveIMLS

Email Your Members of Congress

Get contact information at http://cqrcengage.com/ala/home. Here is a sample message to use:
Dear [insert name of Congressperson] for teens to succeed in school and prepare for college, careers and life they need access to strong school and public libraries! Please support the following vital library programs in the FY19 budget:

Vote to fund the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) at $189.3 million

Vote to fund Innovative Approaches to Literacy at $27 million

Oppose the White House's proposed elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Phone Your Members of Congress

Never called before? Read Calling Congress is Easier than You Think -- Here's How to Do It. Get contact information at http://cqrcengage.com/ala/home. Here is a sample message to use
Hello! My name is [insert your name] and I live in [insert name of your town]. I'm calling to ask Congressperson [insert name of Congressperson] to support libraries so that our state's teens will have what they need to success in school and prepare for college, careers and life! I am asking Congressperson [insert name of Congressperson] to support the following vital library programs in the FY19 budget:

Vote to fund the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) at $189.3 million

Vote to fund Innovative Approaches to Literacy at $27 million

Oppose the White House's proposed elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Organize a Contact Congress Party in Your Community!

Invite patrons and library supporters to the school or library (or choose another location) to contact their Congresspersons’ offices and let them know how much they value libraries. Focus the party on one or more of the following communication tools: cell phones, email, postcards and/or Twitter. This could be a drop-in event, where patrons and supporters can stop in at any time during the day to make the calls, emails, etc., or you can choose a particular time and have everyone gather at once. Keep in mind that Congressional offices usually close at 5:00 PM, EDT.

Reserve a space for your event.

Recruit volunteers to assist with or be the organizers of your event. Possibilities include your Teen Advisory Group or Friends of the Library.

Work with volunteers to market the event through the library’s web site, social networking tools, fliers and more.

Before the event, collect success stories about the real-life impact your library has had on the community it serves. These can be personal stories from individual patrons, newspaper articles from your local paper, or blog posts, photos, etc. Stories can illustrate a large or small impact, from a successful “one book” program to a computer workshop for senior citizens led by teens.

Put out a call for stories via email, or a social networking site, or collect stories in the library via a bulletin board or at the circulation desk.

Reach out to the local media and invite them to come, and/or write a press release and send it to them. Visit for tips on reaching the media.

Create a festive atmosphere: provide snacks and decorate with red, white and blue.

Provide a sign-in sheet and ask participants to provide their names and emails so that you have a way of contacting them for future advocacy events.

Before the patrons make the calls, write postcards, Tweet, etc. provide them with some brief tips on how to craft a strong message. Be sure to distribute the ALA Issue Briefs and instruct them to use these as well as the success stories you collected. For teen specific information, you can direct them to www.ala.org/yalsa/teens-need-libraries

Consider making and handing out stickers for those who participated to wear. Stickers could say things like:

I Called My Congressperson Today

I Support Libraries

Ask Me Why Libraries are Important

After the event is over, be sure to thank volunteers and participants. Consider writing a personal letter to any legislators who attended the event.

FAQ

Q: Does this event constitute lobbying?

A: It depends on the type of message that the individual sends. To be considered lobbying, a communication must refer to and reflect a view on a specific legislative proposal or legislation that has been introduced before a legislative body (federal, state or local). Nonprofit organizations that qualify for federal income tax exemption under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code have restrictions on government affairs activities. To maintain their 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, these organizations must avoid all political campaign activities, which means they may not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office. However, they may conduct lobbying activities within permissible limits, as outlined by the IRS. For a helpful explanation, read this explanation from the Afterschool Alliance.

Q: Why should I do this? Doesn’t the American Library Association (ALA) and YALSA advocate for libraries at the national level?

A: You are correct: ALA and YALSA advocate for libraries at the national level; however, advocacy efforts are more successful when there is grassroots participation. Members of Congress want and need to hear from voters in their districts. These are the constituents they serve, and as a voter your actions and opinions can influence them.

Q: How can I continue to connect with my members of Congress after this event and help them see the value of libraries?

A: Congress members spend a fair amount of time at home in their districts. When they are home, invite them to attend a library event, or invite them to participate in a library initiative. For example, ask them to pose for a photo for a poster that encourages reading. To find out when your member of Congress is home, contact their office or consult this Congressional Calendar. You can also add your member of Congress to your mailing list, so that they receive your print or e-newsletter.

Ask Your Library Patrons to Share their Library Story

Library Stories (patrons can easily post a story or message of support about libraries via ALA's @ your library site)

Use YALSA's National Library Legislative Day Talking Points

Use these with your virtual participation activities: Talking Points(PDF)

Share What You're Doing

Please share any ideas or plans you have for National Library Legislative Day in one of these ways:

Add your information below

Tweet about it with the #NLLD18 hashtag

Take a minute to tell YALSA what you're doing via this short online form

If you want to participate but need some inspiration, take a look at what others are doing. Also, be sure to log on to and let others know your participating.

Post Your LSTA Stories Here

YALSA's President and President-Elect will be attending National Library Legislative Day and one piece of Legislation they will be advocating for is the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA). If you have information about who LSTA funds have helped the teens in your community or state, please post that below so YALSA can share it with Congressional staff on Legislative Day. Please be sure to include your name and state. Thanks!

More Information

After you've contacted your legislators, tell YALSA what happened by posting a message in the discussion section on this page.

Why

We all know that kids and teens need libraries in order to be successful in school and later in life, but policy makers don't always know that, and young people rely on us to tell them. In order to ensure adequate funding and support for libraries, it's important to educate policy makers, stakeholders, elected officials, etc. so that they make informed decisions.